The N3TC Drak Challenge canoe marathon, the Euro Steel Drak Descent mountain bike race and the Euro Steel Run the Rivers trail run, together with the FNB Drak Music Experience concert have all been called off as the respective organisers agree that hosting several thousand athletes and their families cannot be justified under the prevailing pandemic.
As the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to strike communities and families across South Africa, the organisers of the popular annual FNB Drak Adventure Weekend have agreed to cancel the three sporting events and the music concert that made up the popular family weekend in Underberg.
Photo: Anthony Grote – Gameplan Media.
“We appreciate the efforts of Canoeing SA and the KZN Canoe Union in doing everything possible to keep the major events alive, but on overall assessment we all agreed that the risks heavily outweighed the benefits, and we need to be responsible and safeguard everyone’s health,” said Drak Challenge race committee head Mark Willment.
“We had flexible plans in place to ensure social distancing and full compliance at the race, but the reality is that almost everyone travels a long way to Underberg for the weekend and books into local accommodation, and the risk of creating a new super-spreader event was real,” he said.
Grave concern was expressed about that the overflowing hospitals and their ability to cater professional medical care should a serious injury occur to any participants.
“We have top class medics on duty, but they are hours away from the nearest hospital and the reality is that there are no beds available at many of these hospitals and patients needing care are being turned away and sent to find alternate hospitals. We can’t responsibly stage an adventure sport with that risk,” he added.
Options to postpone were considered however after consultation with the main sponsor, Euro Steel, it was concluded that staging an event under the current conditions would potentially lead to a further spread of infection.
Athletes who have already entered the events will be given the option to either carry their entry over to the 2022 events, to donate their entry to the charities that normally benefit from the event, or to apply for a refund.
“The health and safety of everyone is our top priority and therefore the decision is considered to be responsible and supported,” said Asheen Magjee, FNB KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head.
He said that FNB remained committed to its long term involvement in the sporting and social weekend, and would look at ways to assist the community, organisations and charities that have come to rely on earning an income at the events.
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